Bladder (Cystitis) & Urinary Infections

Anatomy of kidney, bladder,urethra and ureter

Urinary tract infections are second only to colds when it comes to infections in women, whose anatomy sets the stage for trouble (In men, urinary tract infections are much less common but potentially more serious, because they’re often tied to prostate problems.)

Urinary infections occurs when a microorganism invades the bladder or the urethra, which carries urine from the bladder and out of the body. The result is burning or pain during urination, the urge to urinate frequently, lower back pain and sometimes blood in the urine. Though much more common in women, men can also develop urinary tract infections – especially those over age 50, who may have enlarged prostates.

Drink lots of water – about six to eight glasses a day – keeping the body well-hydrated helps flush bacteria out of the bladder.

Cranberry juice has long been thought to prevent bladder infections. Researchers found that the cranberry juice makes the urine more acidic and discourages the growth of bacteria.

Wear cotton underwear, nylon underwear should be avoided.

Cystitis

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Dr. Berg on Cystitis:

Interstitial cystitis is a painful bladder syndrome many people suffer from. Among the most common symptoms are a painful bladder, an almost uncontrollable urge to urinate and painful urination. Medical data has shown no cure for this condition as of the moment, as the causes as yet to be determined.

What baffles medical practitioners first and foremost is that there’s no infection involved. No bacteria are found to be the culprit of the disorder. However, they did find antibodies within the wall of the smooth muscle that contracts with the bladder. Since there’s inflammation, the immune system is activated. The condition also involves the autonomic nervous system and a part of the sympathetic nervous system.

While there’s yet to be a cure, minimizing the intake of possible triggers is vital to alleviate pain and discomfort. Possible triggers are caffeine, alcohol and MSG. Also, you would need to cut down on your insulin.

For temporary relief, take 2g of L-arginine on an empty stomach. L-arginine is an amino acid that increases nitric oxide in the body. This nitric oxide is responsible for relaxing the smooth muscle to inhibit the spasm. This is a natural way to alleviate pain and minimize the onset of contractions as much as possible.

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